The Whippet, 265 



must undergo a certain tuition, during which they 

 come to run at their greatest speed. All prelimi- 

 naries being arranged, the dog makes an appearance 

 at one of the many "running" grounds. Here a 

 course is laid out on the cinder path, the distance 

 usually being 200 yards. At one end the various 

 handicaps are marked out, three dogs start in a heat, 

 and each, as in ordinary pedestrianism, has a side 

 allotted to it by draw or otherwise. The starter is 

 behind the dogs, pistol in hand. A friend of the 

 owner holds his dog on the mark, the owners or 

 trainers run in front of their dogs up the course call- 

 ing to them, and dangling something attractive — a 

 chicken's or pigeon's wing, perhaps, or a piece of rag, 

 a towel or an old shirt ; rabbits and live stock are not 

 allowed. These owners or trainers havino^ reached 

 the limit of the course, the pistol is fired, the dogs 

 are slipped, and at their full pace urge on to the goal 

 where their trainers await them. Near there the 

 judge is placed, who quickly and promptly pro- 

 nounces which dog wins, and so the fun goes on. 

 The rules are stringent to a degree, as all rules ought 

 to be (subject even to no appeal in a court of law), 

 and any man slipping his dog before the pistol is 

 fired is disqualified, not only for that heat, but for 

 the whole stake. The sport is exciting enough, and 

 if it does not attract the thousands that gather to 



